TORONTO (Feb. 17) — As the Toronto Maple Leafs soar through the most stellar and meaningful hockey at this juncture of a season in 25 years, there remains the urge from within to allay expectation. To fundamentally minimize a remarkable,… Read More

TORONTO (Nov. 28) — Two nights after enduring one of the most excruciating losses in its professional sports history, the city of Calgary welcomes a team from… Toronto. That’s right, the Maple Leafs invade the Scotiabank Saddledome later tonight, 48… Read More

TORONTO (June 28) — Imagine the Toronto Maple Leafs in three years with John Tavares, Auston Matthews, William Nylander and Mitch Marner all making beyond–entry–level cash; with a Norris Trophy–caliber defenseman eating up close to $10 million in cap space… Read More

TORONTO (Jan. 24) — I had a swirl of mixed emotion this morning when the Toronto Argonauts announced the firing of long–time general manager Jim Barker. Part of me was upset for one of the genuinely nicest people I came… Read More

TORONTO (Nov. 14) — There is no arguing the merit of the two gentlemen inducted this year into the media wing of the Hockey Hall of Fame. Bob Verdi is the dean of sports columnists in Chicago and has covered… Read More

I hear the secrets that you keep… when you’re talking in your sleep.
— The Romantics, 1983
TORONTO (Nov. 7) — Lou Lamoriello wearing flannels and a stocking–cap? Almost too funny.
In what other circumstance, however, might a rival National… Read More

TORONTO (Sep. 9) — In the realm of longevity, those Toronto Maple Leafs Stanley Cup teams from the 1960’s will not go away. And, we thank the good Lord for that.
The latest in the group to join Club Octogenarian… Read More

TORONTO (June 16) — He’s a right–handed shot with offensive flair and he’d be a No. 1 or 2 defensemen on many teams in the National Hockey League. But, is Kevin Shattenkirk a proper fit for the Maple Leafs?
According… Read More

TORONTO (Jan. 14) — Wow, that didn’t take long.
Here we are in mid–January and the “playoff–bound” Toronto Maple Leafs are suddenly left for dead. An email from an ardent — now inconsolable — fan of the Blue and White… Read More

TORONTO (Nov. 16) — This is going nowhere… much like a sports Sunday that had “Toronto” written all over it: Argos cough up a 12–point lead and lose a playoff game at Hamilton with no time left on the clock.… Read More

TORONTO (Aug. 28) — Less than two months after his 75th birthday, Bob O’Billovich has been inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.
His statue should one day be erected in Nathan Philips Square.
The biggest sports names in… Read More

By HOWARD BERGER
TORONTO (Aug. 4) — For two weeks, southern Ontario is bone–dry. I buy tickets to a Canadian Football League game in Hamilton and get soaked.
At least I wasn’t alone.
More than 24,000 people had their coifs… Read More

By HOWARD BERGER
TORONTO (Mar. 30) — Thowback Thursday’s and Flashback Friday’s, so popular among the Facebook crowd, have nothing on me. Particularly when I open the Berger Vault — decorative name for a metal–plated trunk with cedar–wood lining that… Read More

By HOWARD BERGER
TORONTO (Sep. 22) – A fan of the Maple Leafs will notice quite a change in the hockey club this season if the 23-man roster evolves as projected. For the first time in 40 years, the team… Read More

By HOWARD BERGER
TORONTO (Aug. 25) – Were he to be perfectly honest, new Maple Leafs assistant GM Kyle Dubas would probably say that Randy Carlyle is among the last coaches he would employ in the National Hockey League. Perhaps… Read More

By HOWARD BERGER
TORONTO (Aug. 3) – The baseball pundits were unanimous in their appraisal of the Blue Jays coming out of the All-Star break.
Seventeen games against American League also-ran teams from July 18 to Aug. 3 would determine,… Read More

By HOWARD BERGER
TORONTO (July 20) – Having provided background in my Friday blog (http://betweentheposts.ca/the-toronto-collapse-part-1/), it is now time to offer hard evidence as to why Toronto has richly earned its place among the most inept cities in professional sport.… Read More

By HOWARD BERGER
TORONTO (July 18) – “Wait.”
For more than a few years, the above-mentioned word – by itself – has become an habitual reply among sports fans in this city.
Hey, the Blue Jays are the hottest team… Read More

Who is

Howard Berger

Hockey/baseball reporter at THE FAN-590 for 23 years (1988-2011), and original from September 1992 launch of Canada’s first all-sports radio station. Covered Toronto Blue Jays 1992 and 1993 World Series victories. Started with Leafs full time in 1994. Enjoying life with my family (kids Shane and Lauren).